Yerevan's newly elected Council of Elders has taken over the office for more than two months.

The Media Center hosts the Yerevan Council of Eldermen's factions in order to present their work to the public, as well as to consider the factions' activities in the context of their pre-election programs.

On August 22, members of “Yelq” faction presented their work and problems at the Media Center. Representatives of “Yerkir Tsirani” Party spoke about their conducted activities and works to be doneat the Media Center on August 28.

Marina Khachatryan, Member of “Yerkir Tsirani” Faction of Yerevan Council of Elders, says that during the previous month, they visited visited all 12 administrative districts of the city to make more comprehensive insights on the problems and concerns of Yerevan residents.

“We have grouped these issues, which are mainly related to incomplete work or non-working of the Municipality of Yerevan,” Marina Khachatryan said.

The latter considered it necessary to present in detail the faction's observations related to the regulation of public transport in Yerevan. According to the council member, after taking over the office of the Council of Elders, the faction presented to the municipality a conceptual plan for public transport regulation, as well as the mayor and the municipality employees were proposed to travel by public transport once a week to have a clear idea of the disastrous situation of that system. However, the mayor and his staff denied the proposals.

Referring to the initiatives implemented by Yerevan municipality to modernize and improve the public transport system, Marina Khachatryan mentioned:

“As for the working group and the invited English organization, I must say that participating in the discussions, this document is of no value. And for that document, Yerevan residents have paid $ 1 million from our pocket, Yerevan city budget.”

The latter expressed conviction that the local specialists could do the work more efficiently and without such an enormous sum of money.

Sona Aghekyan, Member of “Yerkir Tsirani” Faction of Yerevan Council of Elders, summing up the results of the meetings with the residents of Yerevan, notes that the citizens' problems were mostly social. At the same time, she stopped at the problem of pre-school education.

“At present, we have 30,000 children waiting for the kindergarten to go and it is very likely that they will not reach their destination. We currently have 12,000 children in kindergartens. This is when we have kindergartens the buildings of which are used as trade centers or other places of entertainment,” Aghekyan said.

A member of the Yerevan Council of Elders also presented what are the main and priority issues facing the residents of Yerevan, in her opinion.

“The first is the problem of public transport, the second most important issue is education, including pre-school education and the third is health care issues.”

Marina Khachatryan presented another bunch of priority issues and considered the lack of legal awareness of citizens as the most important issue.

“Because of the lack of legal awareness of the majority of citizens, we are in this situation. The second problem is garbage, air pollution and terribly low levels of greenery, and the third most important problem is social hardships that affect all sectors, from education to transportation,” Khachatryan said.

The media regularly reportes that the old mine dumps of Akhtala Mountain Enrich Combinat, situated between Chochkan and Mets Ayrum communities in Lori region, poses a danger to the environment and the population.

On March 2, 2018, the RA National Assembly will elect the 4th President of Armenia. On January 18, Armen Sargsyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, was nominated as the candidate for the presidency of the Republic of Armenia during the meeting of the executive body of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA).

On January 13, RA Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan posted on his Facebook page about the treatment expenses of military serviceman Albert Dallakyan, who was wounded as a result of violating the rules for safe handling with a weapon by the platoon commander. The minister urged to donate for surgery of the wounded soldier abroad. The required amount is 46,000 USD.

The most urgent issue for conscripts involves the health issues and medical conclusions during conscriptions. In 2016-2017, 50 out of 59 applications filed by the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly-Vanadzor Office referred to the health issues of conscripts.